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What is the linkage of city dwellers & sub-health?
(Posted on 1 October 2008)
Mr. Ma is a young intellect promoted to the managerial level with only 35. After promotion, he began suffering from immense stress, posing a threat to his ever-good health. A year ago, he always complained of headache and fatigue, with difficulty in concentration and unstable emotion. He lost interest in everything and was easily irritated. He was not able to screen out any illnesses through medical checkup provided with such situation. Is he suffering from sub-health?
- What is sub-health? Is it a common problem for city dwellers?
- What causes sub-health? Who are the high-risk groups?
- Any diagnosis for sub-health? Is it related to fatigue syndrome?
- How is Sub Health treated?
- How can sub-health condition affect us?
- Can sub-health be cured? Are health products for sub-health effective in treating the condition?
- What should we do in our daily lives in order to prevent sub-health conditions?
Source: Quality HealthCare
What is sub-health? Is it a common problem for city dwellers?
There is no common standard for the term 'sub-health' while Chinese and Western medicine has depicted in different ways. Hence no definition can be developed so far. Sub-health is a status between health and illness. It is not a disease but an abnormal condition in physical and mental health, human structure and organs. Generally speaking, it refers to frequent onsets of unhealthy situations with no definite disease or illness can be screened out.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 'health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. If you have any problems in physical, emotional, psychological and social health, as well as defects in adaptability, thought and behavior, and attitude towards life, you are defined as 'not healthy'.
According to a global survey by WHO, only 5% of the world population enjoys real good health; 20% has illness after investigation and diagnosis; but up to 75% is in sub-health condition.
As sub-health is not a disease, it should not be regarded as a disease for city dwellers. However, city dwellers are more vulnerable to sub-health as it is most related to the hectic city life, competition, stress, habit and pollution, etc.
What causes sub-health? Who are the high-risk groups?
People aged 35 to 60 are more vulnerable while executives, seniors and celebrities are also at higher risk. There are many reasons behind; common causes can be divided into the following five categories:
Mental stress
Many office workers are suffering from persistent stress due to their heavy workload and pressure at work. Persistent stress will bring negative influences on health, such as poor emotions, impaired heart health, reduced cognitive functions and impaired judgment.
Daily habits
For eating habits, oily and salty food or rich sauces will certainly have a negative impact on health. Hong Kong people who dine out often prone to consume excessive monosodium glutamate (MSG), leading to increased renal pressure and hypertension. Unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking alcohol also pose threats to our health. For example, people will indulge in alcohol with a hope to relieve the feeling of loneliness. In addition to the bad influences on organs like liver, stomach and heart, alcohol will also damage our nerve and brain cells. The influences can be long lasting and irreversible.
Life change
Job change, moving to a new house, love failure or even marriage and birth fluctuate our emotions, which may impair our adaptability and lead to insomnia, irritability and anxiety, etc.
Pollution
Pollutions such as air pollution and water pollution, will certainly affect our health. Hong Kong is a densely population area congested with crowd and noise. It is never easy to relax and enjoy a comfortable life.
Psychological factors
Nervous system and endocrine functions affected by our mental status will initiate various diseases. People psychologically unhealthy are more vulnerable to sub-health conditions.
Any diagnosis for sub-health? Is it related to fatigue syndrome?
As there is no standard definition for sub-health, it is not possible to have a set of diagnostic rules. Some people often suffer from underlying syndrome such as headache, dizziness and fatigue but not a single disease can be identified during body check. It is a type of health degeneration but can also be an onset condition.
For example, somebody supposed to be nice but easily get irritated and impatience without reason suddenly. He may also develop bad habit like smoking. Such abnormal mental and behavioral conditions can be regarded as sub-health.
Fatigue syndrome is a common condition in cosmopolitan, symptoms may include serious fatigue, back sore and pain, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headache, insomnia, poor concentration, etc. Though symptoms are similar, fatigue syndrome is different from sub-health conditions. Fatigue syndrome is a disease but sub-health is only a condition or status. Fatigue syndrome will cause damage to human organs and lead to drooped spirits and poor vitality. The feeling of tiredness cannot be relieved with long rest.
If you are not sure whether you have got fatigue syndrome or sub-health condition, please consult your doctor for solutions.
How is Sub Health treated?
Cindy is working hard for her HKCEE this year. She attends different tutorial classes and avoids extra-curricula activities besides school. Recently, Cindy experiences insomnia, fatigue, poor memory and concentration that her academic results decline drastically. She feels blue, and always gets sick. Cindy's parents are very worried but have no ideas how to help.
How can sub-health condition affect us?
Sub-health will affect our total well-being. A person persistently in sub-health conditions will result in deteriorated physical health or even illness, and poor mental status. Poor health causes problems or even negative impact on social health, work, family, interpersonal relationship and self-development.
The strongest labor force, those aged between 35 and 60 are most vulnerable to sub-health conditions. If the number of victims is huge, it definitely lowers the overall productivity, increases medical burden, hinders socio-economic development and livelihood. Sub-health will also affect teenagers, which may pose a threat to their normal learning and growth. In long run, it has a profound effect on individuals and the society.
Sub-health is a warning from your body, urging you to pay great attention and handle properly as early as possible. It will be difficult to treat if disease is developed.
Can sub-health be cured? Are health products for sub-health effective in treating the condition?
Sub-health is an integrated concept with no common standard so far, therefore no standard 'treatment' is available for the time being. However, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible in case of suspicious symptoms and frustrations. Disease can be easily developed if we do not have a healthy total well-being.
Treatment should be based on individual situation. For example, sedative medicine may be prescribed for insomnia caused by mental stress; Vitamins will be prescribed for malnutrition patient for supplementary purpose. Doctor sometimes will suggest complementary methods such as diet therapy for improvement of health according to patient's own physique. However, the vital key to health should be maintaining a relaxing lifestyle, a good physique, and to develop personal interests for healthy growth and development.
Sub-health products sold in market may not be effective. While sub-health conditions can be of various reasons, no single product can achieve all purposes. It cannot be labeled specifically when there is no consensus between the Chinese and Western medicine. We should be alert to sub-health conditions by finding out the reasons behind illness and improve our total well-being.
What should we do in our daily lives in order to prevent sub-health conditions?
A balanced psychological health and healthy lifestyle would be the key to prevent sub-health conditions.
People in Hong Kong are easily under stress with their hectic work in such a competitive and bustling city. We should learn to 'let go', be proactive and optimistic, and to keep ourselves cheerful and peaceful all the time. Some nurturing interests such as reading, listening to music, calligraphy and drawing would enhance our accomplishments. Do not hesitate to seek help if there is problem at work; lifelong learning would help to enhance your capability too. Try not to be stranded by stress of your work. If the problem cannot be solved, be open to change to another work environment. It is always not worthy to work at the expense of your health.
A healthy lifestyle is important to health. Regular lifestyle such as rest and work regularly, and enough sleep are always useful. We should do more exercises to enhance our immunity and relieve our stress. Regular diet, healthy food choices and cooking method should not be neglected that plain, less oil and salt should be the rule. Try to avoid bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol and nightlife.
Source: Quality HealthCare
